{Charlie}

"I can't believe I signed up for this," I huffed, packing my favorite oversized sweaters and jeans into my hardtop suitcase.

"Honestly, I can't believe Myles even agreed," my best friend Tanya admitted.

I had to agree with Tanya. My husband, Myles, isn't the most open-minded person and shies away when trying new things. He was rigid, particular, and preferred for everything to remain at the status quo. A niggling feeling of anxiety crept into my bones, making me question if I should follow through with the study. We haven't been on the best of terms lately, and I was slightly perturbed when he eagerly agreed for our family to take part in Tanya's program.

After several years, Tanya was finally completing her Ph.D. in Psychology, and the only thing that stood in her way of completion was her thesis project. For her thesis, she wanted to pay two couples to swap spouses for three months and study their dynamics from month to month. Tanya spent weeks of her life vetting applicants and had only managed to find one couple that fit the criteria that were willing to participate in her program. I felt terrible when she came over one night panicky and on the verge of a mental breakdown. Tanya was in tears that there was a real possibility that she would not finish her thesis project in time. All those countless hours of lectures and late-night cramming sessions would have been for naught. Not to mention Tanya's looming financial aid debt that hovered over her like a dark cloud. How, as her best friend, could I witness her struggle and watch her dreams float down the drain? I threw my hat in the ring, and of course, my family perfectly fit her parameters. Tanya assured me that she was more than confident that she made the right choice based on the applicant's personality, career, and personal morals and values.

"Remind me again what you hope to accomplish by all of this," I demanded.

"Well, as you know, you and another wife will be swapped for three months. During the three months, you won't have much contact with your own family besides a video call every week."

I scowled, thinking about how much I would miss my daughter, Emori.

"I know it sucks, boo, but that's what you signed up for," Tanya gently reminded me.

I rolled my eyes and waved for Tanya to continue.

"So, you and your new spouse will be keeping a journal that you will record in weekly. You will jot down anything that comes to mind. If you hate your new spouse, then say it. If the kids behave like spoiled assholes, then say it. If you want to jump your new spouse's bones, then include every single sexy detail," Tanya teased.

"That'll never happen," I spat, double-checking my suitcase to make sure that I had everything.

"Uh-huh. As I was saying, write about your new family. What do you like or dislike about them? Do you feel integrated into your new family? Do you trust each other? How do you feel about your own family? How does this new family differ from yours? At the end of the study, I will interview everyone and record your experiences, including the children."

I determined nothing was missing and zipped the zipper of my suitcase, simultaneously sealing my fate.

"And what exactly are you trying to prove, Tanya?"

Tanya nonchalantly shrugged her shoulders.

"Does absence make the heart grow fonder? Or will it have the complete opposite effect? Will you easily transition back into your family unit upon your return? Will there be habits or traditions that you'll take back to your own family? Will cultural and ethnic differences play a part in your experience?" she excitedly asked, following me down the massive winding staircase of my immaculate mansion.

I adored my home, but at the same time, I wanted...less. With Myles gone often, the house was too big for just Emori and me. I wanted more children, but he made it abundantly clear that there wouldn't be another addition to the family. I was an only child and had always wanted a large family. I sighed at the melancholy thought that the uninhabited rooms would forever remain guest rooms or, worse...storage. Once upon a time, Myles wanted a large family too, or at least he said he did. Shortly after Emori was born, I brought up the subject of trying again, only to be told that another child would interfere with his career. Dude...what career?

Myles and I were both divorce attorneys; however, I was more successful by a long shot. I was deemed the third-best divorce attorney in Texas, and Myles was edged out of the top ten list at #11. My ability to successfully dominate a male-driven industry was a significant contention source between the two of us. We have always fiercely competed against each other and our fellow cohorts in law school, but that was just the nature of the beast. Early on in our aspiring career, we learned it was a dog-eat-dog world, and only the strong would survive, and the weak would perish. From the start of my career, I realized you could never let your guard down, not even around your significant other. I've faced off in court against Myles a handful of times, which always ended in a devastating loss for my husband. He would bitch and complain about how I couldn't let him win just once, and I would simply shake my head and tell him to do better.

I realized my marriage is unhealthy and prayed the three months of separation would put things in perspective for me. I would either return in three months and try to make things work with Myles or end my seven-year marriage. It wouldn't be a tough decision for me; our relationship has been loveless for some time now. If I was candid with myself, we were just glorified roommates.

"Another thing, thanks so much for donating your study proceeds to the other family. I know $10,000.00 is only a drop in the bucket to you, but that was still very generous of you," Tanya said, interrupting my self-reflection.

"It's no big deal. You know I always ask God to make me a blessing to someone else, and it's not like I'm losing the money. I'm sure the Scott family needs the money more than I do, especially since they only have one person in the household working with two teenagers and a newborn. Not to be judgmental, but what new mother wants to leave their newborn in the hands of a stranger for three months? At least Emori can open her mouth and say something if something's wrong."

Tanya smirked as she loaded my suitcase into the trunk of my Escalade.

"Believe it or not, I gave her the option of bringing the baby with her, but she declined."

"Damn."

"Right, but maybe you'll find the answer to your question at the end of the three months. Did you say your tearful goodbyes to your family?"

I looked at Tanya as if she had three heads. "Of course I did! Emori and I cried, and Myles told me to "take care." Really? Take care? To add insult to injury, we didn't even have sex!" I ranted.

Tanya shrank into her seat. "Well, maybe you'll have bomb ass "welcome back home" sex when you return?"

I rolled my eyes. We haven't had sex in over six months, and I don't foresee my dry spell ending soon. I don't even know why I bother. At this point, Myles was more than likely getting it from somewhere else.

"I hope these kids will adjust well," I sighed, distracting myself from my husband's more than certain infidelity.

"Don't worry. I'm sure everything will be fine."